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Quote:
Originally Posted by cepheid
He is very aware that pilots aren't there just to haul people around, but are an integral part of the customer-facing team and that even small, easy touches by the pilots can make a significant difference in the passenger's experience before, during, and even after a flight. A lot of these little niceties are just that - little - and yet they can turn a bad flight into a good one. Capt. Flanagan said that every passenger deserves to get where they're going in a safe and enjoyable manner; he knows that they're not just passengers, they're people, and he clearly wants every pilot to share this outlook.
A very minor correction; he said (to the best of my recollection):
"My philosophy is this; I don't care what airline you fly(and they really hate when I say this). Again, I don't care what airline you fly, or whether you travel by train or your own car, but everyone deserves a safe, comfortable travel experience."
How very zen. And cool.
I agree meeting Capt. Flanagan was one of the high points of the weekend. What a kind, classy guy.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeeYa
What a kind, classy guy.
Hear, hear!
Although if ALL UA employees were like him ... things would be so much better, we'd all be happy, and what would happen to FT? We'd be reduced to whining about trivial things ...
Seriously, having been "touched" by Flanagan and a few other gentleman pilots, they should know that their efforts are well-intentioned, meaningful and appreciated.
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I Met Capt. Flanagan at MY Work Today!
We had a travel fair at work today. UA has a table set up and I'm over there snagging some new toys (a blinking luggage tag, some plane cards and wings, notepads, pens, and a TSA-approved UA bag for my "3-1-1" items). Very cool. So I'm chatting with the UA staff and see that they have copies of the WSJ article on Capt. Flanagan. I say to them, "This guy is a rock star!" They smile and say, "He's right over there, if you'd like to meet him." Sure enough, in UA uniform, there he is. So I walk over clutching the WSJ article and ask him if he would mind autographing it. He chuckles and signs it with, "Thanks for flying the friendly skies. Capt. Denny Flanagan". He then handed me one of the oft-described business cards and told me to contact him anytime if I had a comment about UA... I said he ought to be careful what he wishes for because I'm one of those FTers. He laughed and said, "You know that I call you guys 'Trekkies' of the airline industry." He asked if I was at the SFO event. I wasn't. He really enjoyed it.
We talk about FT for a bit and he mentions that he's tried to read the threads, but gets stuck with the whole password and login thing -- too many things to remember. We laugh. I compliment him on the model that he sets for the airline and hope to see more folks following his lead. He agrees. We chat a bit more about mileage runs with a couple of my company's travel people (they had no idea). I then took my leave.
So it looks like UA is bringing him around now as a goodwill ambassador to their key clients. Very nice move by UA to really recognize the great PR that this guy represents for them.
I later emailed him, thanking him for his time and suggesting that UA bring back the "Friendly Skies" campaigns, with him as the poster child -- if not for the traveling public, at least internally. I wished him smooth rides and favorable winds.
(I still can't believe that I walked up to this guy and had him autograph a WSJ article. I'm a 45 year old geek for certain now! But hey, to us, this guy is Michael Jordan.)
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Flying the Friendly Skies since 1968... MP member since 1992... Crazy about my miles since 2003.
So it looks like UA is bringing him around now as a goodwill ambassador to their key clients. Very nice move by UA to really recognize the great PR that this guy represents for them.
What a great story!
If you don't mind me asking, who do you work for? Must be a VERY key client to bring out Captain Flanagan!
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What an AWESOME story! He really is even more amazing in real life, IMO, than he is on FT.
The trekkies line is absolutely classic. I remember him saying that the first time around at SFO... had a really good chuckle from that. Happy to hear he remember that event!
Had the honor of flying with Capt. Denny Flanagan last night PHL-ORD (Flight 563). Everything that has been mentioned about this guy is true. He handed out the 757 cards in the gate area. He signed several cards and later in flight announced that if your card was signed you will receive a bottle of wine. Additionally, he provided the opportunity for passengers to write comments about this flight or any other United flight and he would make sure the comments got back to the correct person.
I've heard alot about Capt. Denny, but flying with him at the helm is truly special.
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Excellent to hear, FightingIlliniUAL! He is just such an amazing guy, words can't do him justice.
For anyone that may fly with him in the future, just a hint: Go ask him if Channel 9 will be on. There may be a special prize for the first person that asks.
For anyone that may fly with him in the future, just a hint: Go ask him if Channel 9 will be on. There may be a special prize for the first person that asks.
Great tip! Unfortunately, I was literally the last one on the plane as I was originally booked on 519 (7:45pm). Had 563 not been delayed past 6:30, I would never had made it on.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by p1cunnin
(I still can't believe that I walked up to this guy and had him autograph a WSJ article. I'm a 45 year old geek for certain now! But hey, to us, this guy is Michael Jordan.)
Ha! I know exactly what you mean. I'm asking all pilots to sign UA cards on my current trip. I feel like a big, dorky adult kid.
He really is even more amazing in real life, IMO, than he is on FT.
